Pea-shelling machine.



No. 773,858. PATBNTED NOV. 1, 1904. J. H. EMPsoN.

PEA SHELLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. s, 1903. No MODEL; FQ mums-41111121: 1.

A NORA/EY.

No. 773,858. PATENTED NOV. l, 1904.

J. H. BMPSON.

PEA SHELLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1903.

N0 MODEL. iSHBBTS-SHEET 2.

K INI/ENTOR.

U70/z2?, HiT/@zusam A TTORNEY'.

WITNESSES:

PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

J. H. BMPSON.

PEA SHELLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1903. y

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

W/TNEssES.-

ATTORNEY.

PATENTED NOVA, 1904..

J. H. BMPSON. PBA SHELLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG, s. 190s.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

if.. 0 AN.

IN1/M1701?.

WJTNESSES.-

ATTORNEY.-

UNTTEDL STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

JOHN H. EMPSON, OF LONGMONT, COLORADO.

PEA-SHELLlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,858, dated November1, 1904. Application filed August 3, 1903. Serial No. 167,994. (Nomodel.)

To rz/ZZ 1071/0771/ it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, JOHN H. EMPsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates,1'esidi ng atLongmont, in the county of Boulder and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPea-Shelling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The machine represented in the accompanying drawings in its generalfeatures and mode of operation is similar to that set forth in myprevious patents. In the present instance my invention relates toimportant improvements which obviate certain serious difficulties whichhave been encountered in along' acquaintance with the machine and itsoperation.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide a mechanism fordriving the outer cylinder which overcomes the unsymmetrical unevenmotion resulting from the means formerly employed; second, to provide anadequatesupportforthetravelingchaff-conveying apron which is simple inconstruction and offers minimum resistance to passage of said apron overits supporting-surface; third, to provide a means for securing thescreen-frames to the outer drum in such manner as to permit them to beremoved easily and such that said frames are held firmly in place whenthe machine is in operation; fourth, to provide a device for guiding thevines after their discharge onto a slatted rack at the discharge end ofthe machine; fifth, to provide a means whereby the loose peas remainingin the mass of vines after their discharge from the drum are freed andrecovered, thereby avoiding a considerable loss of peas; sixth, toprovide a simple and effective method for driving the apron whichseparates the remaining loose peas from the vines after their dischargefrom the drum; seventh, to provide a simple, inexpensive, and rigidconstruction for the inner drum; eighth, to provide a means forfastening the rubber paddles to the faces of the inner drum whichovercomes the troublesome lack of rigidity which has been heretoforeexperienced; ninth, to provide a simple, inexpensive, and rigidconstruction for the rollers about which the traveling aprons move;tenth, to provide a device within the outer drum which prel vents thetoo rapid progress of the vines through said drum, thereby opposing thetendency of the vines to carry through with them peas which havebeenhulled, and thereby also subjecting them to a more thoroughthreshing by the paddles on the inner rotating drum. l attain theseobjects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a par'.- tial vertical longitudinalsection and side elevation of such parts as it is necessary to show togive an understanding of the improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view and anend elevation of the improved apron-support. Fig. 3 is a partialvertical section of the angle-iron which is used to prevent thetoo-rapid advance of the vines through the drum. Fig. 4 representsapartial transverse vertical section and end elevation of the machinealong the line o a of Fig. 1, certain parts being omitted for thepurpose of disclosing others. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of thebody of the machine, showing the improved device for driving the outerdrum. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the shell of the outer drum, showingthe improved means for attaching the screen-frames. Fig. 7 represents alongitudinal sectional view of the inner drum, showing an improvedconstruction. Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 represent the rubber covered paddle andin section the means for securing it to the boards of the inner drum.Fig. 1() represents in end elevation and partial longitudinal sectionthe vinebeater. Fig. 11 represents in section the construction of therollers about which the aprons travel.

rEhe general mode of operation of the machine illustrated in theaccompanying drawings is similar to that of former patentsnamely, No.546,085, dated September 10, 1895, and No. 604,377, dated May 24, 1898-granted to myself.

It is to be understood that as regards the inventions herein claimed ldo not confine myself in their application to the speciiic type ofpea-huller herein described, since they may to advantage be applied toany pea-hulling machine which employs the parts to which my inventionsappertain.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the IOO two bearing-surfacesupon the periphery of f was so troublesome because of its tendency tothe slowly-rotating outer drum, which rest become clogged by the refuseof the machine. upon and rotate concurrently with the two J Thenecessity' for the bevel-gearingis obviated pairs of pulleys B. (Shownin Figs. 4 and r by the adoption of this device, and a simple 5 Crepresents the two shafts upon which the method fordrivingthestraw-conveying apron 70 said pulleys are fixed. l is secured.

D represents two annular racks situated on i N represents the spiderswhich form the thc periphery of the outer drum, which are framework ofthe inner beating-drum or core geared with two pinions F, which arefixed l of the machine. These spiders N are seated IO on one of theshafts (l, bearing two of the and set-screwed upon ashaft O, which isliour- 75 pulleys B B. One of these pinions E is geared l naled on theframework. These spiders are with a pinion 2 upon the shaft 1, whichshaft adapted to receive and maintain in position receives rotarymotion, through chain and l near their outer edges and between adjacentsprocket, from the shaft O of the inner rappairs the plates 13, of anysuitable material,

I5 idly-revolving drum. It is to be understood, which when in positionform complete the sur- 8O however, that I do not limit myself to thisface of the drum. Extending longitudinally particular means of drivingthe shaft (l, for through the drum from end to end are the anyconvenient connection with the powerthrough-bolts P, designed to holdthe spiders shaft of the machine would answer as well. firmlyin placeand to give rigidity to the drinn.

2O F represents the longitudinal supports for The heads and nuts ofthese through-bolts bear 85 the support of the traveling'cl'iaff-conveying upon the exterior faces of the end spiders of apron 3,the upiif'ardly-trai/'eling portion of the drum. which is in contact atits lower face with the In Figs.`9 and 10 Q is a reinforcing-platetransverse members G of the support. placed beneath each paddle upon theinner face H represents reinforcing-plates fixed beof the drum. Thethrough-bolt 15 passes 90 neath the transverse members G. through thisplate, thence through the plate I represents the beveled ends of thetrans- 13 of the drum, thence through the base of the verse members G,presenting to the traveling paddle 14, all being secured by a nutbearing apron a curved surface which minimizes fricupon the upper faceof the base of the paddle tion and wear on the apron. 14. The advantageof this moans for attach- 95 .I is an iron T-bar extending lengthwiseing the paddle lies in the rigid fixation made within the outer drum, towhich are attached possible by the metal reii'iforcing-plate Q. thescreen-frames 7 of said drum. 4 repre- Formerly because of the fact thatthe padsents stud-bolts fixed at convenient intervals dles were notfirmly attached to the faces of the drum great difficulty wasexperienced in IDO 3S in said T-bar, bearing each a thiimb-screw o and awasher 6, which is of sufficient size to maintainingaproper impactbetween the paddles and the pea-pods. The proper adjustengage both ofsaid frames 7, abutting along the line of the T-bar J ment of thisimpact is of the utmost importance.

Ii represents two guides in the form of a 40 bottomless trough attachedin any convenient In Fig. 11, R represents spiders which are 105 seatedand set-screwed upon a shaft S. These manner to the framework of themachine so spiders (similar to those in the inner drum, see

arranged as to guide the vines upon their dis- N) are adapted to receiveand maintain in pochargc from the drums onto any appliance,

sition near their outer edges between adjacent such as the slatted rack8, which is placed below to receive them. This device possesses pairsplates T, of any suitable material, which 110 form complete the surfaceof the roller. This the advantage of doing away with the hithertotroublesome radial discharge and confining construction permits the useof a roller of considerable radius, which is most desirable and thevines to that particular part of the machine where they are next to bedealt with. which at the same time is light and runs easily with slightexpenditure of power. II 5 Lisa rapidly-rotating system of beatersdriven in any convenient manner, upon which V (see Figs. 1 and 3) is acircular angle-iron the discharged vines fall and are thoroughly placedwithin the outer drum adjacent to its inner surface which checks theadvance of beaten, permitting any peas therewith to fall the pea-vinesas they move toward the disupon whatever device may be below to receivethem-as, for example, the straw-conveying charge end of the machine. Ithas been found I 2O heretofore that when the vines are forced apron 9.

M is a belt, of any suitable material, actuthrough the outer drum by theaction of obated by a driving-pulley 10 on a shaft which liquely-setpaddles on the inner rotating' drinn receives rotary motion from anyconvenient said vines progress with such speed that they source. Thisbelt M passes ovei idlers 11 carry with themagreatmanyloosepeas,whichI25 and engages another pulley 12 on the shaft of are eitlierlost orrecovered with difficulty after the roller about which moves thestraw-conthe vines have been discharged from the drums. This angle-iron,however` impedes veying apron 9. This device possesses the advantage ofextreme simplicity and docs thc advance of the vines and subjects themto a prolonged agitation by the beating-paddles 130 away with thebevel-gearing, which heretofore on the inner rotating drum, by which theloose' peas are freed and the perforations in the outer drum instead ofbeing' carried onward by the rush of the vines.

In the operation of this machine the driving-gear is so arranged andpositioned that the inner drum W and the outer drum X will be rotated atrelatively different rates of speed for purposes well understood in thisart, and as the vines are passed into the feed end Y they are thoroughlythreshed by the paddles 14 upon the periphery of the innerrapidlyrotating' drum IV, the shelled peas falling throug'h theperforations in the outer drum X. Said paddles 14 are arranged obliquelyin the form of a spiral, so that as they revolve they force the vinestoward end Z of the machine. Thrust out at the discharge end Z thevines, conducted by the guides K, fall upon the slatted rack 8, whencethey fall upon the vinebeater L, where they are thoroughly agitated, theshelled peas confined therein being permitted to fall upon the apron 9,down the face of which they roll, while the vines are conveyed upwardlyby the apron and dumped over the roller S. The peas which fall throughthe perforations in the outer drum X strike the endless traveling apron3 and roll down its surface into a trough. Such chaff as falls throughwith the peas adheres to the surface of the apron and is removed by thebrush 15.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A pea-shelling' machine having, in combination, an inclinedadjustable traveling' apron, and a support for the upper run of saidapron comprising longitudinal rails, and a plurality of transversespaced inclined slats secured thereto with their ends projecting beyondthe longitudinal rails, the whole being positioned to permit easycontact between the upper surfaces of said slats and the under surfaceof the upper run of said apron, said slats being' reinforced upon theirunder sides near their ends, and having their ends beveled to presentcurved surfaces to the under side of said apron, whatever itsadjustment, at the points of initial and final contact therewith.

2. A pea-shelling machine having, in combination, a drum whichdischarges the depletedvines through one end, a rack which receives thedischarged vines, and conveyingguides above said rack at opposite sidesof the discharge end of said drum which direct the vines to the rack.

permitted to fall through 3. A pea-shelling machine having, incombination, a hulling-drum, and means for liberating peas from themasses of vines after their discharge from said drum, said meanscomprising a rapidly-rotating beater below said drum and a separatorbelow said beater, the vines being dropped from said drum upon saidbeater and being agitated thereby, the freed peas and depleted vinesthen falling upon said separator which consists in a smoothsurfacedinclined traveling apron which carries the vines upward and dumps them,the freed peas rolling down the inclined surface of said apron.

4. A pea-shelling machine having an inner rotating' drum comprising aplurality of spi- Y.

dersl including end spiders and intermediate spiders; a shaft upon whichsaid spiders are fastened; each pair of said spiders being' adapted toreceive between them and maintain in position' near their outer edgesplates which form complete the surface of said inner drum; longitudinalthroug'h-bolts, eX- tending the entire length of said drum and throughall the spiders, by which said spiders are held firmly in position andsaid drum is made rigid; the heads and nuts of said throughbolts hearingupon the exterior faces of theV said two end spiders.

5. A pea-shelling machine having a traveling apron, and rollers aboutwhich said apron moves, consisting of a plurality of spiders includingend spiders and intermediate spiders; a shaft upon which said spidersare fastened; each pair of the said spiders being adapted to receivebetween them and maintain in position near their edges plates which formcomplete the surface of said roller.

6. A pea-shelling machine having, in combination, a slowly rotatingouter hullingdrum; a rapidly-rotating inner beating-drum, having meansfor feeding vines through said outer drum; and means forretarding theprogress of said vines during their travel through said outer drum,consisting of an annular rim secured to the inside of said outer drumand bearing an annular iiange extending inwardly into said outer drumtoward said inner drum.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. EMPSON.

Vitnesses:

FRED A. ALLEN, C. K. REGISTER.

IOO

